Keep in mind that you're a novice lifter for a longer period of time than you think you are. Novice lifting can last anywhere from a few months to a year or two, depending on how hard you hit the weights and where you started.

Once you've reached the point where you don't make regular progress on the SS program, you are ready to move on to the intermediate stage, which can last you for a good number of years. Find it HERE:

If you're a very advanced lifter (many, many years of CONSISTENT weight training), then there are lot of programs out there, and which one you pick is simply a matter of preference. If you're really that advanced, you should know what works for you and what doesn't by this point.

I just had a health screening done to switch up my life insurance. I received the results in the mail & everything was normal except globulin levels. Has anyone ever heard of that? Normal is 2.1 - 2.8 & mine was 2.0. Dr Google tells me that it could be a number of things. (malnutrition, liver disease, kidney disorder, cancer....) I've made an appointment to talk to my doc about it, but that's a few weeks away.

I'm posting this here because I wonder if it might have something to do with my workout routine. I've been working out really hard lately & I'm probably not getting enough rest. (I've been getting quite exhausted lately) It's also got me wondering about my diet. My typical day is:

Breakfast - Cliff bar & coffee. (I make eggs if I have time, but that usually doesn't happen)

Lunch - I work out over lunch so I usually just have a protein shake & another Cliff bar.

Dinner - Meat & a lot of veggies.

Snacks - Throughout the day I snack on apples, almonds, and maybe another cliff bar.

Drinks - I drink coffee in the morning, but I just drink water after that. (unless I'm having some beers in the evening)

Have any of you ever had any experience with this at all? I was kinda hoping it was a common thing for really active people. I've never even heard of globulin & it's got me a little freaked out.

Most likely not the cause but drop the cliff bars. They are not good for any male to be eating. Soy is bad.

Man, did I ever pay for that 2.5 hour power workout on Saturday. I was already depleted, apparently. I could do one set at my normal depletion weight, and then I had to just keep moving down, even during my sets, just to complete the 15 reps. It was AWFUL. I was just DONE. But, that's okay. The point is depletion, not muscle building.

OK, I got into my doc early and I know you all give several ****s about whether I live or die so I'll share what he told me. He said that low globulin levels are common with vigorous exercise. It just means my immune system is depleted as a result of being exhausted. He said all of my other #s confirmed that I'm fine. I just need to rest.

OK, I got into my doc early and I know you all give several ****s about whether I live or die so I'll share what he told me. He said that low globulin levels are common with vigorous exercise. It just means my immune system is depleted as a result of being exhausted. He said all of my other #s confirmed that I'm fine. I just need to rest.

OK, I got into my doc early and I know you all give several ****s about whether I live or die so I'll share what he told me. He said that low globulin levels are common with vigorous exercise. It just means my immune system is depleted as a result of being exhausted. He said all of my other #s confirmed that I'm fine. I just need to rest.

Welp. I'm off to the gym....

We've talked about the deload week. DO IT!

This is a rest week for me and later today I have a deep tissue massage scheduled. I beats the pants off of deadlifts.

Well, I took no-xplode during a night workout a couple weeks ago and was up till 6 AM, but I didn't sleep in my usual bed that night, so I thought maybe that was the problem. Well, I had a night workout yesterday and same shit. I think no-xplode has more caffeine than most pre-workouts.

Well, I took no-xplode during a night workout a couple weeks ago and was up till 6 AM, but I didn't sleep in my usual bed that night, so I thought maybe that was the problem. Well, I had a night workout yesterday and same shit. I think no-xplode has more caffeine than most pre-workouts.

They make a caffeine free version. I like Bodybuilding.com's Scream and Scivation's NoVem.

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

I do it to look good naked. The bench/squat numbers are just bragging rights. If you can bench 300 at a low body fat the side effect is you probably look pretty good.

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

I don't really understand this question. You mention that you used to do triathlons. I would assume that you tried to improve your times, but there's no more practical application for bicycle racing than there is being strong.

Pushing yourself helps you grow physically, mentally, and even emotionally. It helps burn stress. It helps you clear your mind. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment. It gives you confidence. Simply doing the same thing over and over without setting goals, seeking improvement, etc. is monotonous.

I'm not into lifting, but I run, box, etc. I want to run faster and farther. I want to throw cleaner hooks. I want to do a better job of recognizing and identifying feints.

I'm never going to fight Mayweather. I'm never going to run in the Olympics. I like the way I feel when I achieve a goal. I like the way I look at the pool. Frankly, I like knowing that I can handle myself in the extremely unlikely event that such a situation should arise.

I don't really understand this question. You mention that you used to do triathlons. I would assume that you tried to improve your times, but there's no more practical application for bicycle racing than there is being strong.

Pushing yourself helps you grow physically, mentally, and even emotionally. It helps burn stress. It helps you clear your mind. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment. It gives you confidence. Simply doing the same thing over and over without setting goals, seeking improvement, etc. is monotonous.

I'm not into lifting, but I run, box, etc. I want to run faster and farther. I want to throw cleaner hooks. I want to do a better job of recognizing and identifying feints.

I'm never going to fight Mayweather. I'm never going to run in the Olympics. I like the way I feel when I achieve a goal. I like the way I look at the pool. Frankly, I like knowing that I can handle myself in the extremely unlikely event that such a situation should arise.

I don't want to come across as being a dick or starting an argument, but I have a question about some of the workouts being mentioned. So, some guys want to do a program over several weeks to enable them to bench press 300+lbs, or squat 400+ lbs or whatever. My question is, what is coveted about the ability to do such feats unless you are either 1. competing, or 2. making a living as an athlete? Point is, I'm a very active guy. Used to do triathlons prior to a shoulder injury. I play sports with my kids and other adults, etc. I can't find a single reason that I'd need to be able to bench press 300 plus lbs, or squat 400+ lbs. Please enlighten me.

They are just goals that people have while doing something they enjoy. It's fun for some to push themselves to see what they can actually do. Someone else may have a goal of bowling a 300 or shooting par on a golf course even though the PGA and PBA may not be in their future. For me I was a 6'2 150 lb string bean when I graduated HS so I got into weights to and 15 years later I just love doing things that nobody including myself thought I would be capable of.

I think Henry Rollins summed it up best though.

"The Iron is the best antidepressant I have ever found. There is no better way to fight weakness than with strength. Once the mind and body have been awakened to their true potential, it's impossible to turn back.

The Iron never lies to you. You can walk outside and listen to all kinds of talk, get told that you're a god or a total bastard. The Iron will always kick you the real deal. The Iron is the great reference point, the all-knowing perspective giver. Always there like a beacon in the pitch black. I have found the Iron to be my greatest friend. It never freaks out on me, never runs. Friends may come and go. But two hundred pounds is always two hundred pounds."

I don't really understand this question. You mention that you used to do triathlons. I would assume that you tried to improve your times, but there's no more practical application for bicycle racing than there is being strong.

Pushing yourself helps you grow physically, mentally, and even emotionally. It helps burn stress. It helps you clear your mind. It gives you a feeling of accomplishment. It gives you confidence. Simply doing the same thing over and over without setting goals, seeking improvement, etc. is monotonous.

I'm not into lifting, but I run, box, etc. I want to run faster and farther. I want to throw cleaner hooks. I want to do a better job of recognizing and identifying feints.

I'm never going to fight Mayweather. I'm never going to run in the Olympics. I like the way I feel when I achieve a goal. I like the way I look at the pool. Frankly, I like knowing that I can handle myself in the extremely unlikely event that such a situation should arise.

I did the triathlons to keep within my ideal weight and to get in and keep great cardiovascular shape. Again, I wasn't bashing bodybuilding or guys that want to squat 400 lbs, but I can think of plenty of reasons to want to run faster, bike more easily, etc., but no reason to squat 400 lbs.